“Intima brings together artists with mutual respect and a shared vision.” Gregory Dawson, Choreographer Cover: Frankie Lee Peterson III rehearsing for Intima • photo by Antoine Kem Above: Untitled pigment on paper, Beirut 2006 • Ali Kaaf, Visual Artist US Premiere May 8 at Z Space in San Francisco This fusion of visual art, dance, and music investigates themes of self-discovery, conflict, loss, and resolution. The cultural history of Syria, ranging from the Gilgamesh epic to the current, tragic war, inspired Tayeb Al-Hafez to bring these artists together. Exploring the relationship between man, space, and death has always been a focus of my work. Intima enhances the terms of this exploration by incorporating the physical body at every step. This makes movement an ever-present feature of the total performance, giving the visual display a unique dynamism. Ali Kaaf, Visual Artist During my typical choreographic process, I create movement and then explore what kind of musical soundscape will support what I have created. Intima breaks this mold. It is a highly collaborative effort. Musician Ashraf Kateb and visual artist Ali Kaaf share my concern for the political and social struggles of Syria, and my dedication to employing art in ways that illuminate our shared humanity. The energy, the very root from which we draw our artistic fervor, is dark and rich. That energy is reinforced by our diverse cultural backgrounds. Gregory Dawson, Choreographer For me, Intima addresses many questions, especially now as my native homeland of Syria struggles. I am in love with the philosophic/mythological concept behind the work, a concept that comes from my region. Intima is now part of my creative arc, part of my humanity. Ashraf Kateb, Music Director Intima is both entertaining and socially engaging. The performance shares Syria’s cultural heritage with audiences, and it highlights the universality inherent in its citizens’ current struggles for political freedom. Frankie Lee Peterson III rehearsing for Intima • photo by Antoine Kem Gregory Dawson, a choreographer from San Francisco, and Ali Kaaf, a visual artist based in Berlin, have worked together to create art that combines Kaaf’s large-scale visual installations with the dance troupe’s dramatic blend of classical ballet and contemporary movement. Dawson and Kaaf have earned international acclaim in their respective fields. Kaaf’s visual work has been presented in solo and group shows in France, Germany, Italy, Syria, and the United States. Working predominantly with glass, paper, and photography, Kaaf expresses themes of Syrian heritage, political struggle, and creativity. In 2015 he will be the Artist-in-Residence at the Kala Arts Institute in Berkeley, California. Dawson, a former dancer with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, is the artistic director of dawsondancesf. Intima brings together several artists of Syrian descent along with collaborators from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Music Director, Ashraf Kateb, is a Syrian-German violinist, conductor and composer. He was born in Aleppo, and he studied at music academies in Aleppo, Moscow, Berlin and Cracow. Kateb has lived in Berlin since 1992, where he works as a soloist and chamber musician. In orchestras, he has performed with Leonard Bernstein, Justus Franz, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Gorge Solti, Mistislav Rostropovitch, Igor Oistrakh, Gidon Kremer and others. Kateb worked for many years with sopranos Anna Maria Kaufmann and Deborah Sasson, as well as with the Swiss-Turkish tenor Erkan Aki. He played a founding role in “Arabic Music and the World,” which disseminated the works of creative Arab musicians. Kateb was awarded the Silver Shield of the City of Aleppo in 2009. In addition to his role as Music Director, Kateb composed music for: Voyage, Bond, and Death. Musician Ilyas Iliya composed Serpent Musician Manfred Leuchter composed Passage Musician Kinan Azmeh composed Rebellion and Polis Intima, a dance/visual art/music performance in seven sections May 8, 9 • 8:00 pm Z Space, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco Presented by Tayeb Al-Hafez for Al’Myra Communications Visual Art by Ali Kaaf, www.alikaaf.net Choreography by Gregory Dawson, dawsondancesf.org Music Director, Ashraf Kateb • www.ashraf-kateb.com Composers: Ashraf Kateb, Ilyas Iliya, Manfred Leuchter, Kinan Azmeh Tickets | intima.bpt.me | 1.800.838.3006 x1 Press Contact | Gregory Dawson | [email protected] | 415.994.3430 Jordan Drew rehearsing for Intima • photo by Antoine Kem Intima is produced by Al’Myra Communications, an organization committed to interdisciplinary storytelling through socially responsible and ecologically intelligent means. Working with diverse professionals in an array of artistic fields, Al’Myra Communications brings awareness to topical thoughts and events through such mediums as dance, photography, film, architecture, and the visual arts. More information on Al’Myra and the projects it supports can be found at: almyracommunications.com
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